Millions without electricity as N American storms subside

Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in north-eastern United States and parts of Canada have been spending the weekend without heating or electricity after several days of severe ice-storms.

As the storms finally eased, repair crews struggled to restore power lines, often hacking through the wreckage of trees.

President Clinton has declared five counties in New-York State a federal disaster area, and local states of emergency were declared in parts of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

The Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chretien, has delayed a visit to Mexico because of the crisis.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service